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College visits to Philadelphia and Boston areas

Taking my daughter on college tours to Philadelphia and Boston area July 5-8. Flying from Nashville TN. Trying to figure out best place to fly into, Philadelphia has best rates but then would have to leave from Boston and the fares are a lot more expensive. What about ground transportation between the 2 cities, would a train , bus , rental car or commuter flight be best? We will be visiting 4 colleges in Philadelphia area and 2-3 in Boston. Hate to rent a car but that might be the easiest. Also when looking at lodging would it be less expensive to stay in Philly or Boston?

Flying between the 2 cities would be the fastest. Both US Airways and SW compete in this route. Otherwise, the train is your next fastest option.

You only have 4 days for this trip? It's really a tight schedule to do this. You'd probably need 2 full days for the 4 colleges in Philadelphia; then 1/2 day to 1 day for traveling, and at least 1 full day or 1.5 days for the other 3 colleges in Boston.

In terms of lodging, wouldn't you need to stay in BOTH cities anyway?

In any case, you'd need to fly into one city and out of the other; you won't have time to back track to the arrival city to fly out from there.

There is no way you can stay in one place and see schools in both Philly and Boston - and you don;t have time to see that many schools in so few days - unless it is just a drive by - not a real tour program (which IMHO will be a waste of time).

Have you contacted the schools yet to find out when they have tours? Fitting in 2 schools a day can be difficult. And getting from Philly to Boston can take 6 hours.

If you need to rent a car depends on which schools you are looking at. If downtown schools I would stick with either flying or Amtrak from Philly to Boston. If they are out in the suburbs a car may make more sense.

In any case you should search for open jaw tickets (using the multi-destination function) into one city and out of the other.

As for hotels - again it depends on which schools you're looking at and where they're located. Neither city is known for super bargain places to stay if you want something pleasant - although you can look at Priceline - depending if you are driving or not.

If you only have 4 days, plus travel time, you will be very limited in how much you can see of a campus. Each college probably should get one full day to take the tour, eat on campus, talk to people to get a feel for the place.
Flying would be the best way to travel between the two cities if you are short on time.
There is so much to absorb when you go. I just did this last year with DD1 and will be repeating much of it with DD2 this summer/fall.
We found one school, Virginia Tech, I thought was very large and impersonal the first round. After acceptance, we went back, but this time met with an advisor in her major, and met with kids we know went there. Best move and now DD1 is attending there in the fall. Never would have said that after the first visit spring break 2010.
So, really devoting time to talk to someone, especially if you are coming from Tennessee and this will probably be your only visit to the college your child may choose. It is a big decision and can be stressful. Good luck!!!